Sulfonylurea receptor1 (SUR1) overexpression in the central nervous system is a potential biomarker for positronemissiontomography (PET) imaging of brain damage and recovery. VU0071063, a selective ligand of SUR1 able to cross the blood–brain barrier, was isotopically radiolabeled with carbon-11 from a desmethyl precursor obtained quantitatively in one step. Ready-to-inject [11C]VU0071063 was obtained